(a) whether the Government has noticed that sand mining is rampant
in the country;
(b) if so, whether over extraction of sand would badly impact on
ecology in the country;
(c) if so, whether the Government is taking any measures to study
the impact on the ecology and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has received any suggestions in this regard;
(e) if so, the details thereof; and
(f) the steps taken by the Government to check over extraction of sand from river bed?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS
(SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN):
(a) & (b) Sand mining is regulated in terms of the Mines and Minerals
(Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and the rules framed therein. All
mining activities of minor minerals, including sand, require prior environment
clearance. This is with a view to ensuring that the mining is done in
a scientific and sustainable manner.
(c) to (f) The Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) had constituted
on 24.03.2009 a group under the Chairmanship of the Secretary (Environment
& Forests) to look into the environmental aspects associated with mining of
minor minerals. The group submitted its report in March 2010 and made several
recommendations relating to definition of minor mineral, size of mine lease,
period of mine lease, cluster of mine approach for small sized mines,
requirement of mine plan for minor minerals, river bed mining etc. MoEF
have asked the States to examine the report and to issue necessary instructions
for incorporating the recommendations made in the report in the Mineral
Concession Rules for mining of minor minerals under Section 15 of the Mines
and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. The Hon’ble Supreme Court
vide its order dated 27.02.2012 in IA No.12-13 of 2011 in SLP(C) No.19628-19629
of 2009 in the matter of “Deepak Kumar etc. vs. State of Haryana and Ors.†has
ordered that the State Governments and UTs should take immediate steps to frame
necessary rules under Section 15 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and
Regulation) Act, 1957 taking, inter-alia, into consideration the recommendations
of MoEF in its report of March, 2010.